Sectional pipe for underground electrical wires



(No Model.)

N. U. WALKER.

BEGTIONAL PIPE FOR UNDERGROUND ELEG'TRIGAL WIRES. No. 261,189. PatentedJu1y'18, 1882.

' N, Pnucs. mm npw. WM, 0. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN U. VALKER, OF WALKERS, OHIO.

SECTIONAL PIPE FOR UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,189, dated July 18,1882.

Application filed February 15, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NATHAN U. VALKER, of lValkers P. 0., in the countyof Columbiaana and State of Ohio, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Sectional Pipe; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

It is necessary in the construction of pipes or containers forunderground electric wires to provide for obtaining access to the wiresfor the purpose of laying, examination, and repairs, and also to providefor the draining ofi of any water that may get access to the interior ofthe container. To this end I have constructed an earthenware sectionalpipe-container which is provided with a removable longitudinal sectionand with a drain-chamber underneath the wire-chamber.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improvement, Iwill now describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a side View of two sections of my improved pipe. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof one of the sections. Fig. 4: is an end view. Fig. 5 is a view of awire separating device to be used in connection with myimproved pipe, ifdesired. Fig. 6 is a modification. of the pipe shown in Figs. 1 to 4..

In the drawings, a indicates the pipe-sections, which are provided atone end with sockets b. The interior is divided by apartition, 0, intotwo compartments, (Z and e, the upper or larger of which is thewire-chamber and the lower or smaller the drain-chamber. The partition 0may be formed of the same material as the rest of the pipe; or it maybea thin strip of metal or other substance set in. At the side oppositetothe partition 0 there is a thickened rib, f, and a longitudinalwedgeshaped section or piece, g, is cut out of this thickened portionand forms a removable lid or cover, which maybe taken off to give accessto the chamber cl. This longitudinal wedge shaped section may extendthroughout the entire length of the section, if desired, but preferablyterminates a little short of the end, so as to leave a band or crosspiece, which will not only serve to strengthen the pipe, but willfacilitate the closing of joints between the sections, The purpose ofthe thickened portion f is to strengthen the edges of the opening thusmade, so that the same shall not be easily broken, and to afford a widerbearing for the flaring edges of the cover-section g. At the bowl end ofthe section, and extending across the pipe and the inner surface of thebowl, is a small groove, h, the purpose of which is to drain off thewater that may collect in the drain-chamber c.

WVhen the sections are p ut together, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, anywater which may gain access to the interior of the pipe will pass downinto the chamber 6 at the joint between the sections, such joints notbeing perfectly tight, but sufficiently open to permit the passage ofthe water down into the lower chamber. From this chamber it flows offthrough the grooves h, as described. If more than one wire is laid inthe chamber (I, such wires may be separated from each other by the useof a separatingpiece, c', placed at intervals in the chamber d. Amodification of the form of the removable section g is shown in Fig. 6.Here the thickened portion only is made wedge-shaped, so as to retain itin place. The uppersurface of the piece g may be made flat, Fig. 5, sothat the earth may be completely removed therefrom by a shovel when thepipes are uncovered for examination or repairs. These pipes may be laidin the usual Way, and before the trench is filled up the covers 9 may beremoved, the wires laid in the chamber cl, and then the covers replaced,and, if desired, luted 01' cemented, to make the pipe perfectlywater-tight on its upper surface.

The advantages of my improvement or container consist in theaccessibility of the wires throughout their entire length for purposesof examination and repairs, ease in laying the wires by means of theremovable top, and also in preventing the collection of water in thewire-chamber.

My improved pipe maybe made of any desired substance suitable for thepurpose; but for cheapness and ease of manufacture I prefer to make itof terra-cotta or earthenware.

If desired the pipe maybe formed with longitudinal internal ribs, 0, orwith projections properly spaced to support a removable partition, c ofwood or other suitable material, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

Instead of making the groove h in every sec tion, it maybe at greaterintervals; or Waterjoints or exit-pipes may be inserted at any desiredpoints and the groove h omitted entirely.

I do not broadly claim a pipe or conduit havin g a longitudinal slotclosed by a cover or removable section. Neither do I claim a pipe orconduit divided into longitudinal compartments by a transverse diaphragmor septum; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A pipe-section having a longitudinal opening or slot with thickenededges, and provided with a detachable longitudinal plug for closing theslot in the pipe-section, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

2. A pipe-section having a longitudinal opening or slotwith thickenededges, and provided with a detachable wedge-shaped longitudinal plug forclosing the slot or opening, said plug having a flat upper or outersurface, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A pipe-section having the transverse septum or diaphragm c, whichdivides it longitudinally into a wire-chamber and a drainchamber, thelongitudinal slotted rib f, the removable wedge-shaped longitudinal plugg, and the drain-channel or groove h in the bowl of the section,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day ofFebruary, A. D.

NATHAN U. WALKER. Witnesses T. B. KERR, JAMES H. FORTE.

